Winter time is coming. Are you ready?
As a homesteader, I don’t know if we are ever ready for winter. It seems there is always more to do and for a lot of people making money through winter is a hardship.
Now, I know a lot of homesteaders still keep their full-time day jobs, but for some, those day jobs get shorter hours because of the winter weather.
Also, you do have some homesteaders where their homestead is their only livelihood all year long.
So how do you make up the money you need to get through the rough spell?
Make Some Extra Money This Winter
Well, I have a few ideas to help you along. Here they are:
1. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
Winter time gets cold in most places. If that is the case, a lot of people will use wood heat either as their primary heating source or at least to offset the cost of heating their home.
So with that in mind, why not sell firewood? You can either cut down your own trees on your property (but be sure to plant some back so you can do this for years to come), or you can find a place that sells firewood in bulk. You purchase bulk from them and make your price a little higher for your delivery costs.
2. Oh, Christmas Tree Oh, Christmas Tree
Where I live, Christmas tree farming is a big business. If you have the land, you could consider beginning to grow Christmas trees right out of your back door in order to open to the public. That way around Christmas, people can come pick out their own tree, chop it down, and take it home to enjoy.
Or you could purchase Christmas trees in bulk from a local farmer and then resell them at a roadside stand. Either way, a lot of people love a tree for decorating around the month of December. It could definitely help you make some extra money.
3. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Snow is something we deal with some years and not a lot in other years. But for people that are located in the colder climates, they are constantly dealing with snow.
But this could turn into a business for some people. Where there is snow, there is someone needing it removed. Invest in some of the equipment and consider making this a winter business. My parents are getting older and have a hard time getting out of their drive when it snows. I live too far away to shovel their snow so I know how much they appreciate the removal company that comes by to help them each winter. You can be that help to someone near you!
4. Leaves Are NOT Lawn Ornaments
Fall comes before winter and each year, the leaves fall to the ground. It is a gorgeous sight but terribly difficult to keep up with if you have a lot of trees in your yard.
So why not invest in a sweeper to pull behind your lawn mower and help people keep their yards looking tidy? It will help pad your pocket and keep their grass from dying. Not to mention, you could sell the leaves you collect for people to compost.
5. Give Trees a Haircut
I never really thought much about trees in my area until an ice storm hit and down came the branches. We were without power, and it was no fun.
Well, other people probably think about their trees more each winter as they face more winter storms. If that is the case, then make it your business this fall and winter to trim branches for people (if you have the proper training and insurance to do so.) It will help them to avoid power outages, and it will give you some extra money.
6. Give that Chimney a Good Sweep
Prior to actually being able to burn wood in the winter, most people clean out their chimney. Some people may clean out their own chimney, but not everyone will. For instance, an elderly person or someone who is struggling with a disability, may not be able to climb on their roof. Then you have some people that just aren’t comfortable doing the job.
But that is where you come in. You clean people’s chimneys so they can remain safe, and it will also help you make a little extra money to help pay your bills this winter. It is a win/win for everyone involved. Just be sure that you do a quality job.
7. Mr./Ms. Fix It
If you have the skills to be able to fix things, then you have a great little side business. People spend more time indoors over the winter and therefore pay more attention to when things aren’t working.
So if you have a well-marketed business that will help people fix what is broken in their home, then you have a great way to make extra money over the winter.
8. Make Baths More Enjoyable
Do you love making soap? I have a friend that has actually started her own online business from soap making. She even teaches courses.
So I’ve seen it done firsthand. You can make extra money from making soap. It is just about making a quality product and marketing it well. This winter would be a good time to make some soap and get that business rolling in the right direction.
9. Put Those Fingers to Work
If you have the talent of quilting, crocheting, or knitting, then you have a great way to make money. You can put your items on Etsy, or you can sell them locally.
Either way, if you put your goods out there, make them well, and market them well, then you should be able to make a decent amount of money to help you through the colder months.
10. Light a Candle
Lighting a candle won’t make you money by itself, but you can make those candles and then spread them around among friends. When other people smell how great they are, then you could possibly begin to sell them.
But don’t just make nice smelling candles. Make candles that are great for your skin and health. People love being healthy especially when it requires very little effort.
11. Fill People’s Bellies
Do you have a wonderful talent for baking delicious pies or cakes? Do you make some of the best brownies? Or are you great at making wonderful meals that people simply beg for?
Well, if so, then you could have a potential bakery or catering business on your hands. Be sure to check out your state’s laws as far as selling food and the permits that may be required to go along with that. But if you make delicious goodies and broadcast it, people will usually come.
12. Sell Door Décor
Do you have a knack for making beautiful wreaths? I wish I did! I’m not what you would call, crafty. So I really appreciate someone’s gift for being able to make such gorgeous items.
Well, if you are gifted in this area, then you should seriously consider using this talent to make some extra money. You could sell homemade wreaths around the holiday season and potentially make quite a bit of extra money.
13. Scrap Your Metal
My husband’s job is one of those that is great during the warmer seasons, but during the colder seasons, we have to be quite frugal.
So we will actually save metal all year long for this purpose. When we have a couple of good truck loads full, we’ll haul it off to the scrap yard and get paid for it by the pound. It has helped us quite a bit over a few particularly rough winters.
14. Sell Christmas or Halloween Décor
I’ve seen my Facebook page flooded with homemade Christmas décor for sale. People have a gift for being crafty.
So when they realize that, then they use it to help make some extra money. Do you have a neat homemade décor idea that you use around your own home each holiday season? If so, then try creating it to sell through social media. You could make some extra money.
15. Resell Items
This is something my husband has gotten into recently. He and his buddies trade items quite frequently. He’ll trade things we really don’t need for things he thinks other people might want.
Then he puts it on our local auction site and sells it. You can do this by shopping yard sales, getting rid of unwanted items around your home, or by trading between your friends.
16. Pet Sit
If you have a pet, and you need to travel where you can’t take the pet with you, then things get really difficult really quickly.
So if you have a love for animals, then you could offer to keep someone’s pet while they travel. This is a good way to make extra money, but remember to always take great care of the animals you watch. They are literally someone’s fur baby.
17. Farm or House Sit
I wish more people offered this service in my area because when my husband and I travel it takes a really long time to plan out a really short trip.
Basically, I can’t go off and leave our homestead for more than two nights. I know other farmers and homesteaders are in the same boat. So why not offer your services to watch their farm or home and care for their animals while they travel? It would be a great way to make some extra money and a big help to someone, like myself.
18. Babysit
My final suggestion on how to make extra money this winter would be to sign up on a website like Care.com or advertise locally that you are willing to watch a few kids so their parents can go shopping, on a date, etc.
But be advised, you need to do everything possible to make the parents feel comfortable with you watching their child, and you need to care for each child just as you would your very own. Be sure to provide a background check, references, and do everything to make your home safe for little ones. This is not a job for everyone, but if you have a love for kids, then this might be a great way to make some extra money over the next few months.
Well, you now have 18 different ways to make some extra money this winter. They are not easy or simple jobs, but they could bring in the money you need this time of year.
However, I’d like to know what you do to make extra money each winter?
We love hearing from you so please leave us your thoughts in the space provided below.
